The event takes place today (Mar. 26) from 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. at the Long Beach Playhouse, 5021 E. Anaheim St. It's free and open to the public.

The race for City Attorney -- among the most powerful positions at City Hall (see enumerated City Charter powers below) -- has been highly visible and polarized, spawning two independent expenditure committees which both support Mr. Parkin: one from the LB Police Officers Ass'n. and another whose supporters include retired City Attorney Bob Shannon.

Mr. Parkin, a veteran of nearly twenty years in the City Attorney's office, was appointed City Attorney by the City Council to fill the unexpired balance of the term of City Attorney Shannon who retired in July 2013. On his campaign website, Mr. Parkin cites his experience as City Attorney and his lengthy career as a Deputy and later Principal Deputy and Assistant City Attorney. His website states that he's running to "continue to provide the citizens of Long Beach with an independent and strong voice to aggressively represent and defend the City and protect its important and varied resources. The City Attorney's position can and should be used to fight for and protect the quality of life of the entire community." Mr. Parkin's endorsers include retired City Attorney Bob Shannon, retired Mayor Beverly O'Neill and retired Governor [and former CA Attorney Gen'l] George Deukmejian. (Campaign website endorsement list click here.)

Councilman Johnson's campaign website says he will "fight crime...by going after gang houses and other public nuisances; prevent costly litigation by working with departments to prevent problems before they develop into lawsuits against the City; protect public resources by settling claims when appropriate and reducing excessive attorneys' fees..." His campaign's endorsers include the CA Democratic Party and multiple elected Dems including CA's Treasurer, Controller, Insurance Commissioner, two Congressmembers (Reps. Lowenthal and Hahn) and two Sac'to legislators (Sen. Lara, Assemblyman Hall) and a number of other electeds. (Campaign website endorsement list click here.)

Mr. Pappas' campaign website says "Long Beach deserves a strong, independent and trial-tested City Attorney. Challenging police violence and public corruption and defending residents from environmental crimes and fraud are the City Attorney's responsibilities...[O]ur City Attorney's office costs our taxpayers millions every year in unnecessary legal expenses and lost court judgments...I've spent years in court winning cases that never should have gone to trial. Millions better spent on improving schools, police service and public works have been wasted. Why? Only one Long Beach City Attorney election has been genuinely contested since 1964. "

The City Attorney's enumerated City Charter powers are:

(a) To be the sole and exclusive legal advisor of the City, the City Council and all City commissions, committees, officers and employees with reference to all of their functions, powers and duties under this Charter, State and Federal law;

(b) To draft all ordinances, contracts, and other legal documents;

(c) To attend to all suits, matters and proceedings in which the City may be legally interested;

(d) To defend all suits for damages instituted against officers and employees and former officers and employees for acts performed by them in furtherance of their duty while in the employ of the City;

(e) To approve in writing the form of all bonds required by the City and all contracts before the same are entered into on behalf of the City;

(f) To investigate and enforce on behalf of the City all provisions of this Charter, of the general law applicable to municipal corporations, and of the ordinances of the City, in all courts in the State of California, except criminal cases.

In the City Prosecutor race, incumbent Doug Haubert (elected by voters in 2010) says that in his first term he "fulfilled his pledge to focus on gang crime and prevention, creating a strategy called a "model" for other public prosecutors. Gang arrests and prosecutions have dramatically increased and Haubert’s Gang Prevention Strategy, a community-based approach to gang intervention and suppression, was recently named a finalist for 2013 "Best Neighborhood Program Award" by Ohio-based non-profit organization, Neighborhoods USA." Prior to his election, Mr. Haubert served as an appointed member of the Long Beach Ethics Task Force, the Long Beach Airport Advisory Commission, and the Long Beach Civil Service Commission. His endorsements are listed here.

Challenger Rosemary Chavez, who prosecuted cases while with the City of Los Angeles' City Attorney's office writes on her campaign website: "...I have personally obtained thousands of convictions, either by prosecuting trials to jury verdict, court verdict or via negotiated pleas to high grade misdemeanor cases. The majority of those trials were DUIs...I believe in using creative and effective approaches for prosecutors to promote the goals of public safety and rehabilitation of the misdemeanor offender...I have several new ideas about how a prosecutor can better protect the rights of victim's [sic] and facilitate a victim's ability implement the restitution to which a victim is entitled." Her endorsements are listed here.

The City Prosecutor's enumerated City Charter powers are:

(a) The City Prosecutor shall institute, attend and conduct, on behalf of the people, all criminal cases arising upon violations of Charter provisions or City ordinances, in the court of original jurisdiction and on appeal.

(b) The City Prosecutor shall draw complaints in such cases, and prosecute all recognizances and bail bonds forfeited in said cases. He shall prosecute all actions for the recovery of fines, penalties and forfeitures and other money accruing to the City under penal statutes or ordinances.

(c) Whenever it shall be authorized by the laws of this State, the City Prosecutor shall prosecute any or all misdemeanor offenses arising upon violation of the laws of the State and appeals arising therefrom. He shall draw complaints for misdemeanors committed against the laws of this State, prosecute all recognizances and bail bonds forfeited in such misdemeanor cases and prosecute all actions for the recovery of fines, penalties and forfeitures accruing to the City or the County of Los Angeles.

(d) If any person held in custody and charged with having committed a criminal offense against the Charter provisions or City ordinances, or with having committed a misdemeanor or other offense in the City against State law applies for a writ of habeas corpus, a copy of the application for such writ must be served upon the City Prosecutor at such times and in such manner as may be provided by such law. It shall be the duty of the City Prosecutor to conduct all proceedings relating to the application for or hearing upon such writ on behalf of the people. In all matters of habeas corpus in which the constitutionality of any law or ordinance has been raised, and in all appeals in which the constitutionality of any law or ordinance has been raised, the City Prosecutor must immediately notify the City Attorney thereof. The City Attorney may in his discretion become associated with the City Prosecutor in any such action or proceeding and have charge of such litigation.

(e) Subject to approval of the City Council, the City Prosecutor shall be allowed such investigation funds as necessary to perform the duties set forth herein; and may employ special investigators in connection therewith.

(f) The City Prosecutor shall draft penal ordinances and shall render opinions relative to penal ordinances upon the request of the City Council, City Manager and department heads.